16. Big Hatchee River, Tennessee.-This work was commenced in 1880. The project contemplates removing logs, snags, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation from Bolivar, Tenn., to the mouth, about 240 miles, to render the river navigable for light-draft boats throughout the year. Before work commenced navigation virtually was suspended by the obstructions. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $26,999.19, rendering the stream navigable for light boats for from 7 to 9 months of the year. High water prevented resuming work during the past fiscal year. The improvement is not permanent, as new obstructions are added from time to time, but if operations are continued, economy will be subserved by expending in one season an amount sufficient to clear the river so that further work shall not be needed for several years. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, balance available. $0.81 5,000.00 5,000.81 .48 5,000.33 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix V 16.) 17. Forked Deer River, Tennessee.-Work in South Fork of this river commenced in 1883. The act of 1888 added North Fork and main river under the general head of improving Forked Deer River. The project contemplates removing snags, logs, leaning timber, etc., from the main stream, South Fork below Jackson, and North Fork below Dyersburg. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $19,500, of which $12,500 were applied to South Fork, $4,500 to North Fork, and $2,500 to the main river. The two forks were put in fairly good navigable condition, but in the main stream no material benefit was gained. No work was done in the past fiscal year, on account of high water. South Fork is obstructed by numerous bridges which render steamboat navigation impracticable, and for the present further improvement is not deemed necessary. With the amount available and an additional appropriation of $3,000, it is believed that work in North Fork and main stream can be completed. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix V 17.) $2,500.00 2,500.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 18. Water gauges on Mississippi River and its principal tributaries.— These gauges were established in 1871 under joint resolution of Congress approved February 21, 1871 (Statutes at Large, vol. 16, page 598), for the purpose of securing information from continuous records, with a view to protecting the valley of the Mississippi from overflow, improv ing navigation, and giving correct reports for the benefit of river men and planters. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $81,952.05. Nineteen gauges were established originally, and, under the portion of the joint resolution of 1871 authorizing gauges "at such other places as the Secretary of War may deem advisable," the following have been added, viz: At Nashville, Tenn., Cumberland River, in 1873; Shreveport, La., Garland, Ark., and Fulton, Ark., Red River, in 1890, and Donaldsonville, La., Mississippi River, in 1890. The gauge at Rock Island, Ill., was abandoned in 1879, and the one at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., in 1886, but a record at the latter place has been maintained by the Missouri River Commission. There are now 22 gauges maintained under this work, and in addition to the extensions mentioned above, the service has been improved very materially of late years. In 1881 bulletins were erected at the stations on the Mississippi, for the purpose of giving passing steamboats the stage of water and indicating whether the river was rising, stationery, or falling, and in 1890 these were replaced by larger bulletins, and the old ones repaired and used in extending the service to the tributaries. Since February 1, 1887, the gauges have been read and bulletins posted twice a day, to secure greater uniformity and accuracy; formerly they were read only once a day. Records of the readings have been published by the Mississippi River Commission to the end of the calendar year 1890. Observations commenced at each station as soon as the gauge was set up, and with a few exceptions have been kept up ever since, but owing to small and irregular appropriations, many difficulties were encountered in making the work continuous. In 1878 observations were stopped for want of funds, but many observers continued the records without compensation. In 1884 a deficiency appropriation was made for their continuance. In 1886 the Mississippi River Commission paid the observers and repaired the gauges on the Mississippi to prevent suspensions, and in 1887-'88 the readings were continued voluntarily by the observers. The value of the records requires that they shall be accurate and continuous, and to provide for this and enlarge and perfect the service a permanent indefinite appropriation was made by section 6 of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, to secure uninterrupted gauging. It was understood that this appropriation intended to provide that the amount to be expended for gaugings should not exceed in the aggregate for each year the sum of $9,600, part of which amount should be allotted for gaugings at or near St. Paul, Minn., as required by the closing paragraph of the item of appropriation in the act of August 11, 1888, for continuing operations upon the reservoirs at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. In accordance with this understanding, the officer in charge of gauges on Lower Mississippi and tributaries was authorized to expend $9,000 in the fiscal year 1890, and his project for the expenditure of $8,700 in the fiscal year 1891 was approved. Upon submitting request for funds in April, 1891, it was returned, with the notification that the act of August 11, 1888, allowed only $6,000 to be drawn during each fiscal year, and that amount having been drawn there were no funds available. As $900 had been allotted for gaugings at St. Paul, such construction of the law allowed but $5,100 for this work, and on this account seventeen of the observers were paid for the last quarter of the fiscal year 1891 from appropriations for works of improvement to which the records were of great value, and thus secured their continuity. In view of the foregoing, and to provide for the maintenance of the present gauges, a judicious extension of the service, by adding other gauges now on the Mississippi and establishing new ones at such other places as may be deemed advisable; by gradual level connections with a common reference plane to give the greatest value to the records, and frequent and rigid inspections to prevent errors in the gauges and records, it is recommended that section 6 of the act of August 11, 1888, be amended to grant a permanent appropriation of such amount as may be necessary to do the work, not to exceed in the aggregate for each fiscal year the sum of $12,000. July 1, 1890, amount available (provided by act of August 11, 1888).. Amount authorized to be expended for gauging lower Mississippi and $9,600.00 900.00 Amount of outstanding liabilities of fiscal year 1890 8,700.00 5.19 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 12, 000, 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix V 18.) 19. Survey of Cypress Bayou and the lakes between Jefferson, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana.-This survey was ordered by the act of September 19, 1890 to ascertain if the navigation of said bayou and lakes can be materially and permanently improved by the construction of such dams and locks and dams as may be necessary, and, if found practicable, the probable cost thereof. The approved project contemplated beginning on the Red River survey at the Shreveport base, crossing the country to the lakes, and then along the hills to Jefferson; precise levels from Shreveport to Jefferson, and search for benches of early surveys to compare the changes since the Red River Raft was removed; examination of outlets to Red River; topography, to include transit and stadia work, banks, lines of bayous and lakes, etc., to determine drainage; and soundings and discharge observations and borings at possible sites of construction. At the end of the fiscal year field work had been completed, though operations were impeded and the cost of the survey increased by high water. The maps are being laid out, and effort will be made to complete them at an early date. Borings were not made, as the water was too high and the funds available are not sufficient for the purpose. The original estimates for this work amounted to $12,000, and it is recommended that the balance, $2,000, be appropriated to make the borings at low water. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended....... July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1891, balance available $10,000.00 9, 897.99 102.01 3.84 98.17 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... (See Appendix V 19.) $2,000.00 2,000.00 EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1891. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Willard, and reports thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Willard, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are not worthy of improvement. The conclusions of these officers being concurred in by me, no further surveys were ordered. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-first Congress, second session. 1. Cane River, Louisiana, with a view of improving the same by locks and dams for the purpose of giving permanent navigation the year round.— Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 184. (See also Appendix V 20.) 2. Bayou Castor, Louisiana.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 185. (See also Appendix V 21.) IMPROVEMENT OF ARKANSAS RIVER, ARKANSAS, INDIAN TERRITORY, AND KANSAS, AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI. Officer in charge, Capt. H. S. Taber, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Removing obstructions in Arkansas River, Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Kansas.-Prior to the first improvements in 1833 shifting sand bars, numerous drift piles, and dangerous snags constituted the obstacles to navigation in the lower reaches, and gravel and rock shoals, with a few snags and many overhanging trees, constituted those of the upper. Except for a few special reaches, like the Fort Smith and Pine Bluff, the general plan of improvement has consisted in snagging operations, including the cutting of overhanging trees, in building wing dams to improve the shoals, and in surveys looking towards plans for its permanent improvement. The appropriations to June 30, 1891, amount to $485,251.37. Of this sum there had been expended to June 30, 1890, $391,288.67. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $9,330.43 were expended in snagging operations at or near low water. The unusually well maintained high water of this year has prevented very extensive operations. Two light-draft snag boats are required similar to the one now in use to take advantage of the low-water season. With $70,000 in hand July 1, 1892, an effective clearance of the Arkansas River could be secured. After that the two snag boats could be utilized as towboats upon the work of "Improving Arkansas River, Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Kansas," being used for snagging purposes whenever necessary. It would be advantageous and economical if in future the appropriations for snagging and for the permanent improvement of the river could be made under one head, and a specific sum set apart for snagging, if deemed best. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, balance available 9, 330.43 12, 344. 46 1,227.55 11, 116. 91 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 70,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W 1.) 2. Arkansas River, Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Kansas.-Work during the past season has been carried on under three different acts of Congress. By the act approved August 5, 1886, $75,000 was appropriated, its distribution being indicated in the following words: Improving Arkansas River, Arkansas: Continuing improvement, $75,000, according to the plan and recommendations in Appendix V 13, Report of Chief of Engineers, 1885, pages 1601 to 1611, of which there are to be expended $5,000 at Pine Bluff, $13,000 at Fort Smith, and $10,000 at Dardanelle or so much thereof under those sums, respectively, as may be necessary at those points. This appropriation, except a small sum out of the $10,000 for Dardanelle, was expended prior to June 30, 1890; at Dardanelle the $10,000 was to be expended in erecting a permeable dike above and opposite the town, in such a position as to remove the sand bar in front of the wharves. By act of August 11, 1888, the sum of $150,000 was appropriated for improvement of this river, under plan providing for the formation of a channel at least 200 feet wide and 6 feet deep at low water, from Little Rock to the Mississippi River; and the formation of a channel 2 feet deep at low water and from 200 to 800 feet wide from Fort Gibson to Arkansas City, as contemplated in the report of the Chief of Engineers for the year ending June 30, 1885, and in House Ex. Doc. No. 90, Forty-ninth Congress, first session, and authorized in the act approved August 5, 1886. By act approved September 19, 1890, the sum of $180,000 was appropriated, its distribution being indicated as follows: Improving Arkansas River, Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Kansas: Continuing improvement from Wichita, Kansas, to its mouth, one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. The approved projects for the expenditure of this sum may be summarized as follows: At Pine Bluff $8,000 is to be used in extending and repairing the dikes, for protection of the town front. At Van Buren $4,000, to be expended in erecting a permeable dike at a suitable point a little above the town and upon the opposite side of the river, to contract the channel and prevent it from leaving the city wharves. From Fort Gibson, Ind. T., to the mouth of the river, the balance to be expended in the erection of permeable dikes and in rock excavation at worst places, so far as the amount of the appropriation will permit, looking towards the permanent improvement of the river, to give a channel at least 6 feet deep and 200 feet wide from Little Rock to the mouth of the river, via White River Cut off, as provided under the act of August 5, 1886, and an all-year-round depth of water of at least 2 feet from Little Rock, Ark., to Fort Gibson, Ind. T. Before operations were begun at Dardanelle a bad bar had formed |